30 QUAILOLOGY - DOMESTICATION, ETC. 



crates. The long journey and improper food also has a disas- 

 trous effect on them. However some choice birds can be se- 

 cured as well as those of various species. I have seen the com- 

 monly called Mexican Blue Quail in Chicago markets, and fre- 

 quently, I am told, other varieties are received. 



Where game laws do not conflict, or upon your own premises, 

 a good plan is to trap the old birds. This should be done in the 

 fall or early winter and the birds placed in their permanent 

 quarters as soon as possible so that they may become accustom- 

 ed to their surroundings and begin to breed the following 

 spring. The use of the regular Partridge or Quail Nets is a 

 good method, or box traps. Where it possible to secure a male 

 or female to use as a decoy, the operation of trapping is easily 

 facilitated, but where none can be had, the beginner must 

 wait until the ground is covered with snow and feed is scarce, 

 to make any progress in trapping. We will not go into the 

 question of traps and nets as we presume there are but few 

 who do not know how to make box traps or set a net, and where 

 the quail are most likely to be found in his neighborhood. 



*" The Aviary *" 



This is a question upon which only suggestions and general 

 remarks can be made and the essential points brought out. We 

 assume that our ideas vary and that your circumstances and 

 conditions may not permit of your following a fixed plan. 



In constructing an aviary we must remember that the quails 

 need plenty of fresh air and sunlight, also a certain amount of 

 shelter. Many birds perish every winter, in their native 

 haunts, from cold and exposure, so we must have a certain 

 amount of shelter for them. Again some varieties require more 

 shelter than others owing to the variation from the climatic 

 conditions of their native ranges. 



